Nuclear Costs
David Toke: The Government are developing a ‘strike price’ system under which guaranteed prices would be paid for long periods to ‘low carbon’ electricity generation. But this process exposes the Government to the danger that nuclear power would be seen to be much more expensive than its previous public relations based calculations had suggested – more expensive than offshore wind, never mind onshore wind. This analysis below ‘blows the gaffe’ on the Government’s strategy. Nuclear new build will need a strike price of over £150 MWh (15 p/KWh), making nuclear clearly more expensive than offshore windfarms.
David Toke’s Green Energy Blog 5th May 2012 more >>
Centrica
Anti-nuclear campaigners intend to protest outside Centrica’s annual general meeting. The Stop Nuclear Power Network is this weekend arranging transport to the capital for a similar demonstration of at least 100 people against Centrica. It believes the British Gas owner might reverse a decision to develop nuclear power stations in partnership with EDF, a move that would be a significant victory for the campaigners.
Independent 6th May 2012 more >>
Sizewell
As part of EDF Energys Japanese Earthquake Response (JER) Programme work, to further enhance safety margins across the fleet, purchasing of back-up equipment has begun to provide additional support to a station response, enhancing a stations capability to recover during and after an extreme natural event. At Sizewell B, EDF Energy is proposing to build an Emergency Response Centre (ERC) on the Railhead site to the east of Leiston to incorporate this back-up plant and equipment storage and to provide office space associated with EDF Energys enhanced emergency arrangements for Sizewell B.
EDF Energy 5th May 2012 more >>
Dounreay
Part of a scrapped World War II battleship’s gun turret is thought to have been cannibalised for use in a laboratory at a nuclear power plant. A former worker at Dounreay in Caithness has told staff that it was his understanding a turntable from HMS Howe was installed in Lab 33. It allowed a machine with remotely-controlled arms to swivel around in a cell of the lab, which opened in 1960.
BBC 6th May 2012 more >>
Japan
Thousands of Japanese marched to celebrate the last of the country’s 54 nuclear reactors switching off yesterday, shaking banners shaped as giant fish that have become a potent anti-nuclear symbol. Japan will now be without electricity from nuclear power for the first time in 40 years after a reactor at Tomari nuclear plant on Hokkaido goes off-line for maintenance checks.
Herald 6th May 2012 more >>
Independent 6th May 2012 more >>
Metro 5th May 2012 more >>
Guardian 5th May 2012 more >>
BBC 5th May 2012 more >>
As the last of 50 functional commercial reactors is set to go offline Saturday, that local resistance to turning plants back on has confronted Japan’s leaders with a grim scenario: with the nation’s once vaunted balance of trade already deteriorating, they now face the looming prospect of summer power shortages that could drive still more factories to close or move abroad.
Fuller Money 5th May 2012 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
Campaigners who set up an anti-nuclear camp at the height of the Cold War are returning to the frontline of their protests. In spring 1982, as tensions between the West and the USSR rose, 12 activists set a peace camp at RAF Upper Heyford in the north Oxfordshire countryside. Those involved have been reflecting on their camp and the impact the peace movement ahead of a 30th anniversary reunion.
BBC 5th May 2012 more >>
Non-nuclear states are urging nuclear-armed nations to disarm faster, while nuclear powers say they are making “unprecedented progress” in doing so, a divide on display at this week’s meeting to discuss the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Reuters 4th May 2012 more >>
Green Deal
A nationwide home-makeover programme is promising hundreds of pounds in savings on energy bills, a chance to preserve the planet and the added bonus of what is being described as an “instant disco in the kitchen”. From this autumn, all households will be offered the chance to improve the look and feel of their property with no upfront charge. The cost of new windows, doors, cladding and hi-tech culinary light effects will be paid back from savings on energy bills.
Independent 6th May 2012 more >>
Renewables
THE Prince of Wales is to make Poundbury, his model village near Dorchester, the first in Britain to go off grid with its 1,200 homes supplied entirely by renewable natural gas from decomposing crops. The Duchy of Cornwall has worked with four local farmers to build an anaerobic digestion plant where grass and maize are broken down to produce methane. The gas is already being sent to Poundbury and burnt to generate electricity for 750 of its homes and, from September, will be pumped directly into the pipes supplying the village and surrounding communities to be used for cooking and heating.
Sunday Times 6th May 2012 more >>
George Osborne, the chancellor, blocked tax-efficient funds favoured by high net worth individuals from investing in solar projects subsidised by the government. The move was driven by fears that sophisticated investors were soaking up resources meant to help homeowners install solar panels. The crackdown will not stop the flow of cash from wealthy families into renewable energy, however. More than 40% of private investors plan to put money into clean technologies over the coming 18 months, according to research by Taylor Wessing. The law firm surveyed 120 family offices and angel investors across Europe and found private investors hoping to cash in on measures such as the Green Deal, which will see the government loan households the funds to make homes more energy efficient.
Sunday Times 6th May 2012 more >>
LOCAL communities are being courted to invest their cash in renewable power projects by a green energy expert, who is in talks with the Scottish Government to roll out his new financing model. Doug Prentice, chief executive of GeoCapita, described the model he has developed as public, private and community (PPC), which he believes is more sustainable than private finance initiative (PFI) schemes. The firm, which has offices in Edinburgh and London, is putting together detailed proposals to deliver large capital investments into renewable energy projects and energy-efficient housing.
Scotland on Sunday 6th May 2012 more >>
